Chapter Twenty-Three: The Preliminaries
After reporting to the Hokage and ensuring Sasuke's curse mark was sealed by Kakashi, Naruto returned to the room assigned to Team 7. His body was weary, but his mind was buzzing with thoughts of the events in the forest. Sasuke was still quiet, lost in his own turmoil, while Sakura kept stealing glances at Naruto, clearly unnerved by the changes in him.
A day passed in uneasy silence before a Chunin knocked on their door and summoned them to the arena. As Team 7 entered the massive room, they noticed the other teams gathered, murmuring amongst themselves. The atmosphere was tense, with a mixture of excitement and nerves filling the air.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, standing above the gathered genin, explained the situation: too many participants had passed the second stage, so a preliminary tournament would be held to narrow down the competitors. The room fell silent as the first match was announced—Sasuke Uchiha vs. Yoroi Akado.
Sasuke descended the stairs with determination, though Naruto could see the faintest hesitation in his movements. Despite the curse mark, Sasuke fought well, using his Sharingan and physical prowess to overcome Yoroi's chakra-draining techniques. The battle ended with Sasuke delivering a powerful Lion Combo, knocking Yoroi out cold.
Naruto nodded in approval, though he couldn't shake the feeling that Sasuke was struggling more than he let on.
The next match was announced—Sakura Haruno vs. Ino Yamanaka.
The tension between the two kunoichi was palpable as they stepped into the arena. Their rivalry, fueled by their mutual affection for Sasuke, was evident in every exchange. Despite Sakura's valiant effort, Ino's strategic use of her Mind-Body Switch Jutsu secured her victory. Sakura collapsed to the floor in defeat, tears streaming down her face as Ino was declared the winner.
Naruto frowned, feeling a pang of sympathy for Sakura. Even though she had room to grow, this loss would likely weigh heavily on her.
Then the third match was announced—Naruto Uzumaki vs. Kiba Inuzuka.
Kiba smirked arrogantly, jumping down into the arena with Akamaru by his side. "This is gonna be quick," he said confidently. "No way the dead last stands a chance against me."
Naruto, standing calmly at the top of the stairs, narrowed his eyes. The room was filled with quiet murmurs and hushed laughter at Kiba's taunts. Taking a deep breath, Naruto began walking down the stairs, his every step deliberate and calm.
"You've got a big mouth, Kiba," Naruto said evenly as he reached the center of the arena. "Let's see if you can back it up."
The Proctor, Hayate Gekko, coughed lightly before signaling the start of the match.
"Begin!"
Kiba wasted no time, rushing at Naruto with blinding speed. But before he could land a single blow, Naruto vanished from his line of sight. The next thing Kiba knew, a sharp kick landed against his ribs, sending him sprawling across the floor.
"What the—" Kiba gasped, clutching his side as Akamaru barked nervously.
Naruto appeared a few feet away, his expression unreadable. "Too slow," he muttered.
Kiba growled, getting back to his feet. "Don't get cocky!" He charged again, this time with Akamaru transforming into his clone using the Beast Human Clone technique. The two attacked in tandem, aiming to overwhelm Naruto.
Naruto didn't even flinch. With precise movements, he weaved between their strikes, landing counterattacks that sent both Kiba and Akamaru flying. The room was stunned into silence as Naruto moved with a speed and efficiency no one had seen from him before.
Kiba, now desperate, prepared his signature Fang Over Fang technique, spinning toward Naruto like a drill. But Naruto extended his arm, channeling wind chakra into a precise blast that deflected the attack and slammed Kiba into the arena wall.
Naruto walked over to where Kiba lay slumped, barely conscious. He crouched down, looking Kiba in the eye. "All bark, no bite," he said, his voice carrying across the silent arena.
Naruto stood and turned to leave the arena, his steps calm and deliberate. The crowd erupted into murmurs, the shock evident on everyone's faces.
"Is that really Naruto?" Ino whispered, her eyes wide.
Shikamaru scratched his head, looking equal parts impressed and uneasy. "Guess the dead last isn't so dead last anymore."
Kakashi watched from the balcony, his visible eye curving into a proud smile. "You've come a long way, Naruto," he murmured to himself.
Meanwhile, Sasuke glared at Naruto with a mixture of envy and frustration. The display of power was undeniable, and it stung Sasuke to see Naruto, someone he had always considered beneath him, overshadow him in such a public way.
Sakura stood frozen, her mind racing. She had known Naruto had changed, but this… this was on an entirely different level.
Naruto returned to the balcony without a word, leaning against the railing as he awaited the next match. His expression was calm, but his mind was already racing with thoughts of the battles ahead.